[MAY 2022] The Most Affordable Phones You Can Buy for less than $250(US)/$300(Canada)/€200/£200/₹12,500

US and Canada

Best option

OnePlus Nord N200 – Manufacturers’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet

The Nord N200 is the only 5G capable device at this price however it will only work on sub-6 frequencies. The Nord N200 has a massive 5000 mAh battery, additionally there’s a 6.49-inch FHD+ IPS LCD panel, 64 GB of UFS 2.1 internal storage (expandable via Micro SD) and 4 GB of RAM. Unlike OnePlus’s flagship phones, this one retains the 3.5 mm headphone jack. However, it’ll only get one Android version update. OxygenOS should provide a relatively clutter-free experience as well. Be sure to check if this device is compatible with your carriers before purchasing.

Note: Older flagships like the Pixel 3 may also be available at this price point on Amazon. They will certainly offer the best performance and cameras along with flagship features like water and dust resistance and wireless charging but bear in mind they may not get updates for much longer. Additionally, the Pixel 3 does not have a headphone jack and the battery life is average at best. The Pixel 3a may also be an option if you want a Pixel with a headphone jack and are willing to compromise on the performance (compared to the Pixel 3). Neither Pixel has a Micro SD card slot for expandable storage so look at the alternatives if that is an important feature. The Moto G Stylus (2020) is another option that may be considered if a Stylus is important, it has not been listed here because of the similarities with the G Power.

We’d recommend checking the prices at BestBuy, Costco and other retailers to get the best deal possible. Carriers may offer great deals that could get you a better phone for this price but that might involve an agreement to stay on their network for two or more years.

The used and refurbished market is a good option if you can find a gently used or mint condition flagship. It may be a better option than buying a new phone provided the buyer is ok with the lack of a manufacturers’ warranty or a warranty itself in some cases. Check out the page on used and refurbished devices in Canada here.

Europe

Options

1) Redmi Note 11 – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet

The Note 11 is one of the only options that offers a display under 6.5 inches making it one of the more compact options in this segment. The rest of the package is also very competitive for this price as it is the only phone with a 90 Hz FHD+ display. Other highlights include a headphone jack, dual speakers and an IR blaster. The Snapdragon 680 chipset isn’t particularly powerful so there could be some lag across the UI as Xiaomi’s skin MIUI isn’t light and has a lot of customisations and pre-loaded applications.

2) Realme 8 – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet

The Realme 8 is a great alternative to the Redmi Note 11 if MIUI is a dealbreaker or if someone wants a different brand. It has similar specifications with a 6.4-inch AMOLED panel, MediaTek Helio G95 processor, 4/6 GB RAM and 64/128 GB of UFS 2.1 storage along with a headphone jack, dual speakers and an in-display fingerprint reader. The Realme 8 does not have as many advertisements as the Redmi and Realme UI is not modified as heavily, however the Redmi Note 11’s Snapdragon processor is more optimised than the Realme’s MediaTek in certain applications.

3) Poco M4 Pro 5G – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet

The Poco M4 Pro 5G is a 5G alternative in case that’s a requirement. It has a 6.6-inch FHD+ 90 Hz LCD panel paired with a Dimensity 810 chipset at this price point paired with 4/6 GB RAM and 64/128 GB of UFS 2.1 storage. It also has an 8 MP ultrawide unlike some of the other 5G phones at this price. However you are still compromising in other areas especially display and charging speed.

Note: The Realme 8 5G may be considered if someone wants a 5G phone from Realme

Smartphone prices in Europe may vary from country to country and the storage configuration. It is difficult to maintain a list of the prices in all the countries so we’d recommend checking the price on the manufacturer’s website, Amazon or other retailers to find the best option.

India

Options

1) Redmi 10 Prime – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet

The Redmi 10 Prime is the successor to the Redmi 9 Prime (also known as the Redmi 9 elsewhere and listed above) and is a standard evolutionary upgrade in 2020. Notable however is the presence of a 90 Hz FHD+ IPS LCD panel which is absent from other devices at this price point with a 6000 mAh battery. The whole package is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 processor along with 4/6 GB RAM and 64/128 GB of storage (expandable). As is standard with Redmi phones an IR blaster is provided. Redmi claim to have upgraded the camera but the 50 MP number is mainly for marketing as the individual pixels are just 0.64 μm so they’ll only be 1.28 μm after pixel binning. Additionally, MIUI in India is buggy, has a lot of bloatware and advertisements. Some of the system apps can be uninstalled since it comes with MIUI 12.5 out of the box.

2) Infinix Note 11 – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet

The Infinix Note 11 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G88 processor but has a trick up it’s sleeve as the display is AMOLED instead of LCD like on the Redmi 10 Prime. Thus the phone has a slimmer form factor than the Redmi 10 Prime. On the other hand, Infinix’s XOS skin is extremely bloated and the company does not have an official update policy. The phone does not have an ultrawide sensor either. The Infinix Hot 11S may be considered if you want a similar device with a higher refresh rate LCD instead.

Note: The Redmi 10a can be considered if the budget is under ₹10,000 but stocks seem to be limited. The Redmi 9a and 9i are cheaper options in case of an even lower budget.